During Operation Reindeer 1978, South Africa dropped four companies of paratroopers some 250km inside Angola.

Rooivalk suited the bush-war needs of the RSA during the apartheid years (when Aerospatiale was still willing to sell platforms and provide engineering assistance), but it’s too much of a compromise for most users. Denel’s perilous financial state has also proved worrying for most potential buyers.

Splitting hairs I know, but it was actually IAR and not Aerospatiale.

Have to agree though, the Rooivalk was ripe for the Bush War but sadly came about too late. Unless the whole project is sold to a reliable aircraft manufacturer I see no future for the Rooivalk. It is still a very good helicopter which would be ideal for Puma and Cougar users, if only that price was better 😉

I would be keen on pictures of the SAFAIR Herc’s 😀

South Africa uses her nine C-130B’s for cargo, parachuting, passenger and search & Rescue flights. She has used the C-130 for some 42 years during war and peace with no loss. One aircraft is always on two hour standby to respond to any emergency. Whilst in the earlier years it was the duty of the C-160 to carry helicopters(C-160 tended to carry bulky loads and the C-130 heavier loads!) The C-130 was used to deliver Mirage aircraft to South Africa. Carrying two at a time. The C-130 saw extensive service during the Angolan and Rhodesian Wars. Such as Operation Savannah in 1976 and also the largest African Airborne Assault since the Suez which was during Op Reindeer 5 May 1978. During the later stages of 1987 through to the first half of 1988 some 412 sorties were flown into Angola. Rescue operations have taken place from Gough and Marion Islands through to the Cape Verde Islands. They were also used to search for the “Helderberg” which was a SAA B747 that crashed into the sea near Mauritius. They have also taken part in exercises at Reunion and relief operations to places like Rwanda. The SAAF initially received seven C-130B’s but has recently taken on two more that were donated by the USA. Three F models have not entered SAAF service.

Has anybody heard of any problems with the above concerning reliability, maintainability, any other issues.

Problems with the weapon systems but helicopter is ok.

My gut feeling says that they should, but “Arm Waver” has a valid point.
Not sure what the case is today but in South Africa a number of Police Officers have been killed for the sole purpose of stealing their weapons.

I think that maybe increasing the size of the armed unit is a better solution.

It varies from airfield to airfield. “The Marshaller” use to do it but these days it is usually a Ramp Agent but for some smaller companies this could also be the engineer! ATC will still tell the pilot to follow “The Marshaller” however.

Ecuador